AaAaAaAaAaAaHhHhHhHhHhHh.....!!

this is me sighing.
first term is over at school, and yesterday i had my first class of second term.
that's not the problem. i love medical terminology, and i'm not saying that sarcastically. i think i'll do very well in both classes. medical terminology and body structure and function... i've done them before. ya, once upon a time i wasn't some retail slave with no monies. i used to be smart and educated (got my CNA and pharmacy tech certification) but then the stupid monster ate my brain and i did very bad things for a while.
and it's not the "shaping up" that's getting to me either. it's weird maybe, but i think it's the fact that i don't know whats going to happen day to day.
like, the school is awesome but the online portal only gives you the schedule for the week, and screw the rest. also, the only calendar i have gotten EVER (related to the school and it's operations or whatever) was from the librarian for the library hours. that was a whole month placemat looking thing.
and this kind of thing never bothered me before, because God knows i'm not a planner, i'm a make it up as i go, doesnt matter if i know what im doing or not, type of person. i just go, i just do, and it has always been good. and it has always been good enough. i think... omg.
i think it's paulie's influence. !!! ah!! my brain is exploding...
he loves planning, and calendars and schedules. i hate those things. but i made a google calendar and signed up for google docs, because he freaked out pretty much when he didnt know what was going on on what day and when. so i facilitate the lives of those i love in any way i can, you know, short of wiping their booty if they're grown enough.
but i think by doing these things i've warped myself somehow.
i mean normal people have calendars and stuff and they don't go insane, but i should probably tell you i'm not a normal person. i thrive on chaos and disorder. and apparently
my brain is dying by calendar.
hehe.
i feel better now that i figured it out, i just need to chill.
so anyway, we're whizzing over thanksgiving by the seat of our pants :) i dunno what we'll do for christmas but i would like to see my family a little. last year i only saw my mom for about an hour, then we went to paulie's parent's, who took us to his sister's house which was full of foreign (to me) stuff. probably a typical american christmas, but it was... umm...
boring. with cheeses on platters. and children playing instruments badly. and funny looks from white people who think they are open-minded but are wondering worriedly about the little brown girl in the corner. and funny (not good funny) sibling hatred which is physically palpable but completely ignored by everyone else in the room. i dunno, my family isn't like that. they're not perfect but they don't smell like cheesebreath. and there was no music. that killed it.
oh yes, i forgot. i'm going to try the friggin slow cooker! hopefully it is as easy as so many people say. i would like to be able to make like a stupid pot roast or something, just to do it.
i'm also working on a knit hat, which is based on two hats (which coincidentally are very similar) by Bev Q (i can't spell her last name without copy and pasting it) who has that cool website that's centered around making stuff for preemies oh i should put that link on my list! ... and another nice lady that i can't remember her name (sorry nice lady! i like your hat!)
and i'm trying to make my cousin something for her baby, but i keep starting and ripping it out, cuz i havent really decided what it is yet :P i'll get it done by december i hope
that's enough for me, i've got to get to school!

Mari <3

Stripey Hat with Brim

i made this hat with an aluminum size I hook (US), using Red Heart Super Saver. i don't really like this yarn, but i recently just got a crapton of it after a visit to my mom's house. rescued yarn i was determined to make rescue-able :) i used less than one skein of either color. you can use one color or stripe as much as you want obviously, but either way it will be less than a skein you use.


the brim i made and then thought it was too floppy so i cut a piece off of the back of my spiral notebook at school, it's one long piece folded in half and then sewed up. the crab stitch lining actually closes up the ends of the brim, and the most difficult part of making this hat is probably either cutting the cardboardy stuff or crab stitching the long part of the brim. blech. it was easy but i'm naturally complainy about friggin everything.


super easy, super fun, all you need to know is SC, Reverse SC or crabstitch, SL ST, and how to weave yarn in and out between stitch holes lol. color changes are easy, don't ever be intimidated by stupid crap. also, practice makes awesome :)
Pattern Below!!! (pattern is for hat in pic with exact stripeys)

with first color, ch2

1. make 4 sc in 2nd ch from hook. join to top of first sc with sl st. (4 sc around)
2. ch1 (this never counts as a stitch and you will always work the first sc in the same st as joining.) 2sc in each sc around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (8 sc around)
3. ch1, make (sc in sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (12 sc around)
4. ch1, make (2sc in each sc) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (24 sc around)
5. ch1, make (2sc in sc, 1 sc in each of next 2) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (32 sc around)
6. ch1, sc in each sc around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (32 sc around)
7. ch1, make (sc in each of next 3 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (40 sc around)
8. ch1, sc in each sc around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (40 sc around)
9. ch1, make (sc in each of next 4 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (48 sc around)
10. ch1, sc in each sc around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (48 sc around)
11. ch1, make (sc in each of next 5 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (56 sc around)
12. ch1, sc in each sc around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (56 sc around)
13. ch1, make (sc in each of next 6 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (64 sc around)
14. ch1, sc in each sc around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (64 sc around)
15. ch1, make (sc in each of next 7 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (72 sc around)
16. thru 21. ch1, sc in each sc around. at end of round 21, fasten off first color. (you do not have to fasten off, you can leave the first color hanging until you finish each row, and carry it up in your finishing sl st until you need it)
    

• work 2 rounds evenly in second color, fasten off. you have 23 rounds
  
• work 3 rounds evenly in first color, fasten off. you have 26 rounds
• work 2 rounds evenly in second color, fasten off. you have 28 rounds
• work 2 rounds evenly in first color, do not fasten off. you have 30 rounds

to work brim, do not turn yet. with first color still attached, sl st about 22 stitches, keep it loose but neat so the hat can stretch but not look wobbly. in the 22nd stitch about, ch1 (remember the ch1 never counts as a stitch)

• sc in each of next 26 stitches. you can do more or less depending on the width of brim you want. i made 26 though. ch1, turn.
  
• make about 11 rows (again depending on your preference if you want a short or long brim you can add or subtract rows). make sure the last row you work is going the same direction your first row went, away from the sl st's of the brim start.
• fold brim in half without fastening yarn off. your working yarn loop will be by the outside edge of the hat.
  
• sl st into same st as last sc of first row of brim. it sounds kinda confusing maybe but it makes sense, break it down slowly if you have to. you're basically folding and tacking without sewing the short ends of the brim.
• sl st evenly along edge of hat, all the way around until you get to stitches that already have sl st's in them. fasten off yarn and weave in ends.

now you will attach the second color to the same stitch as joining, or if you carried the yarn over, huzzah, and grab it. ch 1,

• make reverse sc (crab stitches) all along the hat evenly. when you get to the brim, you will work up the unsewn side (thus sewing it together) evenly, then working the needle through the holes of row 6 or 7 (again, evenly. don't worry about making the "3sc corner stitch" or whatever, put one stitch in each hole so the edges get rounded slightly) then work down the other short edge and around the rest of the hat. fasten off yarn and weave in ends.

to make the brim more solid, cut a piece of cardboard or paperboard, make slightly smaller all over than the actual crochet brim, and stick that in the little pocket. (look under your hat, you made the brim a pocket- tah-dah!)

then using first color strand of yarn, sew the opening shut using a weave-y technique so the pattern stays smooth.
and voila, a stripey hat for you :)

this is my original pattern, do not sell. do not copy/post/distribute in any form. link to my pages to share patterns. print out a copy for your personal use. do not sell finished products.
Mari <3

Elana Hat

this is my first knitted hat! wahoo!!!
i started it without checking my gauge.. heheh.. shutup.
i used chunky premiere yarn in oatmeal color and my friggin bamboo circular needles (US size 8, 16")
i heard they will/might split but i don't care, i love them anyway...
and some size 8 dpn's for the top decreases
since i didn't check my gauge the hat came out in a toddler size. ya. neato.
so anyways if u want a cute toddler hat here's what i did to make mine :)

cast on 76
(and ya i counted my rounds lol, i will give measurements in case we don't match)

1-9. k2, p2 rib. this is about 5 centimeters

10-31. k every stitch. this is about 9 centimeters, 14 centimeters total

transfer the stitches onto 3 dpn's, they won't come up even, one needle will have 1 more stitch than the others.

32. (k 4, k2tog) around. you will end up going into the next round since there arent enough stitches for this pattern. don't worry about it :)

33. (k 3, k2tog) around.

34. (k 2, k2tog) around.

35- however long it takes u to get a tight point. (k 1, k2tog) around.

the whole hat will be about 19-20 centimeters long, you wont need to bind off because you will keep k2tog til there are no more stitches to work. cut the yarn and weave in the ends.

this is my original pattern, do not sell. please link to my pages to share. do not distribute in any form. feel free to print out a copy for your personal use.

Mari <3

Aqua Skullcap

cute, no?;) i made this hat with the same yarn as the Mimi one, same hooks too. it used about half a skein of Bernat Satin, which surprised me. So in case you haven't seen the Mimi post, i used 2 crochet hooks- one aluminum US size I for the body and one aluminum US size G for the ribbing. ya, its ribbing on the bottom eh.


you maybe can't really see it in the pics but i did a row of crab stitch? reverse sc, as an edge for the ribs. i used to couldn't do that... looking at that statement makes me realize how stupid it is lol. i couldn't do that before, i just learned a couple years ago from a book, you just go left to right instead of right to left and it gives u a cool twist that you can lose the loose end in easily when you're done. i made the crab stitch round with the I hook cuz i didn't like how tiny the stitches were with the other hook.

the pictures are to show you that this is a SKULL cap lol. it fits snuggly and it reaches just over the tops of my ears. i guess if you wanted a longer hat you could just add more rows to the body after the crown, in which case you would need more than half a skein of yarn. ok! so the materials again:
1 half skein of Bernat Satin solid color
1 aluminum US size I hook (for hat body)
1 aluminum US size G hook (for hat brim)
scissors (one snip eh)

with larger hook, ch2

1. make 8 hdc in 2nd ch from hook, join with sl st to top of first hdc. (never count the ch as a stitch) -8 hdc around
   
2. ch1, make 2hdc in each hdc around. join with sl st to top of first hdc. -16 hdc around
3. ch1, hdc in same st as joining, 2hdc in next. make (hdc in next hdc, 2hdc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first hdc. -24 hdc around
4. ch1, hdc in same st as joining and in next, 2hdc in next. make (hdc in each of next 2 hdc, 2hdc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first hdc. -32 hdc around
5. ch1, hdc in same st as joining and in each of next 2, 2hdc in next. make (hdc in each of next 3 hdc, 2hdc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first hdc. -40 hdc around
6. ch1, hdc in same st as joining and in each of next 3, 2hdc in next. make (hdc in each of next 4 hdc, 2hdc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first hdc. -48 hdc around
7. ch1, hdc in same st as joining and in each of next 4, 2hdc in next. make (hdc in each of next 5 hdc, 2hdc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first hdc. -56 hdc around
8. ch1, hdc in same st as joining and in each of next 5, 2hdc in next. make (hdc in each of next 6 hdc, 2hdc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first hdc. -64 hdc around
9. ch1, hdc in same st as joining and in each of next 6, 2hdc in next. make (hdc in each of next 7 hdc, 2hdc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first hdc. -72 hdc around
10. ch1, hdc in same st as joining and in each of next 7, 2hdc in next. make (hdc in each of next 8 hdc, 2hdc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first hdc. -80 hdc around
11. ch1, hdc in same st as joining and in each hdc around. join with sl st to top of first hdc. -80 hdc around

12-16. repeat round 11.
17-18. switch to smaller hook and ch 3. fpdc (dc in front post of stitch) in next dc, dc in next. make (fpdc in next dc, dc in next) around. you will end up at the first ch3, which you will put a dc over in the same spot as joining. then you will join to the next "real" dc over.
19. switch to larger hook again and make a row of crab stitch (reverse sc) evenly around. i don't join at the end of the round for crab stitch i just make a sl st in the same spot as the first crab stitch and fasten off the yarn, then i weave the yarn around so that it goes in a circle around the last round.

this is my original pattern, do not sell this pattern or the products made from it. do not copy or publish to any other publication. do not paste or attach in emails. do not mail copies in any form to anyone. link to my pages to share. print out a copy for your personal use or charity.
Mari <3

A Post for Pictures and Cuteness Maybe

this is my cute brother jose holding his trophy of a hose ;) he's in the marines and is a firefighter. i don't have the whole story on the trophy but THEY WON! woooooo!!!! i'm so proud

these are my niece and nephew :) ninook(right) and zeus(left). they're both akitas but doesn't ninook look fluffier and zeus look kinda more scrunchy-nosed? they are beautiful




here's me! and paulie's arm lol. we are at steak n shake. they took a crapload of better pics (we went on a collective "visit the parents" trip to Illinois on Sunday) with more people than me in them but this is the only pic i got from my mom. hmph. stingy




we went to a movie after steak n shake. we were trying to go to an earlier show but showed up LATE so we had to wait for an hour for the movie we wanted. this is paulie starting a Peggle game on his phone for us :)

sleepytime :)

Mimi Hat

took me a lil longer than it should have to finish this hat. it's very simple and only uses sc stitches and sl st to join. i named this hat after one of my aunts :) because it's made in a vibrant color and its simple stitches create a beautiful pattern with a soft drape. it's elegant and practical (i.e. warm as heck)

Materials:
1 skein of Bernat Satin (i used the color Aqua)
aluminum US size I hook (for hat "body")
aluminum US size G hook (for hat brim)
scissors! (ya, you will have to make 2 whole snips)
optional: yarn needle (for neat pretty seam on brim)

Pattern:
with I hook, ch2

1. 10 sc in 2nd ch from hook, join with sl st to top of first sc. (10 sc around)
work in BL ONLY always.

2. ch1 (which never counts as a stitch), 2sc in each sc around, join with sl st to top of first sc. (20 sc around)

3. ch1, sc in same st as joining, 2sc in next sc. work (sc in next sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (30 sc around)

4. ch1, sc in same st as joining and in next, 2sc in next sc. work (sc in each of next 2 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (40 sc around)

5. ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each of next 2, 2sc in next sc. work (sc in each of next 3 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (50 sc around)

6. ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each of next 3, 2sc in next sc. work (sc in each of next 4 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (60 sc around)

7. ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each of next 4, 2sc in next sc. work (sc in each of next 5 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (70 sc around)

8. ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each of next 5, 2sc in next sc. work (sc in each of next 6 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (80 sc around)

9. ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each of next 6, 2sc in next sc. work (sc in each of next 7 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (90 sc around)

10. ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each of next 7, 2sc in next sc. work (sc in each of next 8 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (100 sc around)

11. ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each of next 8, 2sc in next sc. work (sc in each of next 9 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (110 sc around)

12. ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each of next 9, 2sc in next sc. work (sc in each of next 10 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (120 sc around)

13-26. ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each sc around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (120 sc around)

at end of round 26, fasten off yarn and weave in ends.


Now to make the Brim:
with G hook, ch 13 (make sure to leave a long tail at the start for sewing)

1. sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each across. (12 sc)
remember to work in BL ONLY :)

2-76. ch1 (which never counts as a stitch), sc in each sc across. (12 sc)

if you have a smaller or larger head, adjust rows accordingly :) try to end with an even number row so that it looks uniform when you sew it all up (which is the next step!)
DO NOT FASTEN OFF yet (if you did... meh, you can always just join the yarn again)

use yarn needle to sew brim into a circular "fits around my head" headband tube.
THEN!!! fold the headband in half lengthwise, so the thickness is doubled but it still fits around your head. sc ends together. don't use sl st because you will need the sc's there to work on.
join with sl st to top of first sc.


remember you're working in BL ONLY
work 2 more rows of sc around the headband (still using G hook), increasing evenly or randomly (whichever, hehe) so that you have 120 sc's around. you need to have that many so you can match the first part of the hat to the 2nd part.

MATCH seam to seam the 2 parts. it's easy if you stick the hat body RS facing into the WS facing headband and sl st together.
once you have stitched everything together, fasten off yarn and weave in ends. just flip the brim up and you have the Mimi Hat!




This is my original pattern. Do not sell this pattern. Do not copy or publish to any other publication. Do not send pattern in emails. Link to my pages to share. Print out a copy for your personal use. Do not sell products made using this pattern.

Mari <3